Odds & Sods 2021

Happy birthday Mike I'm glad you're being spoilt rotten make the most of it my friend there may be a catch in there somewhere

Thanks all on behalf of Mike who has enjoyed his birthday in glorious sunshine and spent the day with our lovely neighbour; we're now about to open a bottle of Aussie Red to keep those blood cells in good condition and the joints oiled LOL ............. CHEERS my dears :)

Looks pretty lousy weather with you Mike we must have been luckier up here so much dso we went over to the Lake District yesterday our first real long trip for a long time. We have some good friends now living over there ,he was my best man 40 odd years ago so a long time friend !! We went on a trip with them to look for some of the Red Kites in the Grizedale Forest area and had great sightings of up to 6 birds using the winds to their advantage so a great day out.

Many Happy Returns to Mike from me too, enjoy your evening and keep those joints oiled and happy:-)

Just caught up with latest comments & before the midnight hour too (only just) so here's wishing Mike Happy Birthday for another five minutes ... think of all the washing up you have to do in the morning! Lol

LOL Dave, thank you so much for your kind wishes and yes I am lucky to be married 41 years to a totally top bloke and his birthday is continuing over the weekend with roast dinner, cake and wine - for now I'm the one chained to the kitchen sink whilst he sits on the balcony in the sunshine (today) and ponders over The Times sudoku, cryptic crossword and polygon LOL Not as many chores to do now we have moved to an apartment and more time to go exploring the countrysside so will have to think of somewhere else to drive out tomorrow far from the madding crowds !

Unknown said:

Lovely set of photos and video clips Mike, loved the squirrel using his tail to hang on to the feeder pole !!

That did look rather inclement weather you've had and think we missed some of that as we managed a couple of walks and also today for Mike's 77th birthday when we drove out to Astbury Mere and took one of our lovely neighbours for two laps round the lake path, stopping for coffee and cake first lap and whippy ice-cream the 2nd lap .........with a chocolate flake on top !!

Thank you Hazel, and a belated Happy Birthday to Mike. The coffee and cake, plus a flake, sounds scrumptious.... Hope you both enjoyed it.

The squirrels are trying their best not to fall off the lampshade, though one (identifiable by a rustic brown patch of fur) has decided it best to hang upside down rather than take any chances eating in the normal position.

You had me bamboozled there for a bit, Dave--starf?! What's that? And then the it dawned on me... very good, Dave!
Yep, you just can't get the help anymore!

Hazel, you could just spend the next year stretching out celebrating Mike's birthday...and why not?! I'm all in favour of extending all such celebrations for as long as possible. My birthday lasted nearly two weeks one year, long, long ago.

Nah, no limits, Dave!

Some from the gardencam, which at the moment with the wonderful unsettled weather we're enjoying, is the extent of my adventures.

What's caught the fox's attention?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51372787772/in/photostream/

A hedgehog coming down to where a fox is to seek out food.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51372786972/in/photostream/

A hedgehog and fox, not bothering each other, but the hedgehog takes no chances and curls up into a ball.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51373543926/in/photostream/

A defensive hedgehog, snappily curls up as a cat passes through the garden.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51373775238/in/photostream/

A stand off between a fox and a cat. In the end, the fox decides to move on

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51373541511/in/photostream/

The next three short videos are a sequence

#1 Fox and hedgehog foraging for food, then the hedgehog feels the fox is too close, and wraps itself into a ball.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51377891983/in/photostream/

#2 Fox foraging for food with hedgehog curled up...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51377656531/in/photostream/

#3 Safe now....

Hedgehog uncurls itself as the fox moves away

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51377888973/in/photostream/